Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Coming to Crimea Would Be A Great Challenge to The West

Anti-American sentiments are very strong in Turkey, which will be fueled by the decision of US President Joe Biden to recognize the Armenian genocide. How will this affect relations between Moscow and Ankara? And why does the Turkish authorities support structures that are considered extremist in Russia?

Unver Sel, head of the Federation of Cultural Societies of Crimean Tatars in Turkey, answers these and other questions in an interview with PolitNavigator.

 

Russian media reported on the rally of the Vatan party near the US embassy, ​​where, in response to Biden's recognition of the Armenian genocide, it was proposed to recognize the Russian status of Crimea. As far as possible, how does the Turkish society relate to such an idea?

- Turkey is a country with one of the highest anti-American opposition. However, when it comes to Russia, especially when such a historical issue as Crimea is on the agenda, Turkish society automatically forms a reflex against Russia. Let me explain with an example. In those days, when tensions were growing in Donbass, the idea spread in society that "Russia will attack our relatives in Crimea."

- And why is this happening?

- There are two reasons for this. First, a significant part of society does not have sufficient information about which country Crimea belongs to, about its significance and what has happened in the recent past.

Secondly, it is the propaganda based on hostility towards Russia that NATO, led by the United States, has been pumping for 60 years. This is the defining situation. Let me describe it this way: Over the past 60 years, the most organized structure in Turkey, including state institutions, is NATO. This includes the media, bureaucracy, political parties and civil society.

At the same time, despite many changes, Russian channels of self-expression in Turkey are limited.

 

Why does the top leadership of Turkey continue to maintain contacts with members of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, which is recognized as an extremist organization in Russia and banned?

- First of all, Turkey wants to keep a useful channel against Russia, which it can use jointly with the West. They use the Crimean Tatar Mejlis as an option.

The easiest way in this situation is the Crimean Tatar Mejlis and its allies, with whom there has long been a relationship based on mutual interest.

 

What about the invitation to President Erdogan to the opening ceremony of the Cathedral Mosque in Crimea, which was sent by Vladimir Putin? Are there still chances for Erdogan's arrival?

- The arrival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Crimea will be a big challenge for the West. If he does this, he will have a very strong trump card in his hand. Turkey occupies a key position in defense and security issues not only for the United States, but also for the EU. The aggravated Armenian problem with the United States may create a chance, but Moscow will have to put forward convincing arguments for Turkey.

 

Why is Turkey providing assistance to Kiev with shock drones in the context of the aggravation of the situation around Donbass and Russia's concern about the current escalation?

- Turkey is trying to balance Russia with Ukraine in the Black Sea. The second aspect is more pragmatic. Turkey is trying to overcome the arms and technology embargo imposed by the West on Ukraine. This is a paradoxical situation that intertwines.

Thus, Ankara thinks that it is transmitting a message to both the West and Russia. This resulted in the delivery of armed unmanned aerial vehicles to Kiev.

 

(Translated from Russian)

https://www.politnavigator.net/vizit-ehrdogana-v-krym-stanet-bolshim-vyzovom-dlya-zapada-unver-sel.html

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